Police union rejects plan for drug tests
News: Local | Police union rejects plan for drug tests | The Register-Guard | Eugene, Oregon
The Associated Press
Appeared in print: Sunday, Oct 3, 2010
PORTLAND The union representing Portland police officers is pushing back against a proposal that would require random drug testing of police officers.
The proposal from the city would also require drug tests after use of deadly force, suspects deaths in custody and serious traffic crashes.
The city and police union are negotiating a two-year contract, in which the city has offered no cost-of-living increase in the first year but proposes an increase of at least 1 percent for the second year.
Portland Police Association attorney Will Aitchison said the random testing proposal would violate the officers right to privacy. The current standard for drug testing is reasonable suspicion, and Aitchinson said any tests beyond that would also violate officers protection from unreasonable search and seizures.
The proposal would exempt civilian employees of the department from testing, something lead city negotiatior Steve Herron said is fair because of the duties and gravity of duties associated with being a sworn police officer.
The consequences of law enforcement behavior is significantly more substantial and severe, Herron said.
The proposal would broaden the current drug-testing policy and the drugs for which they test including steroids as well as enforce stricter penalties for violations.
The city has said that multiple agencies nationwide permit similar testing, as does the Salem Police Department. Portland Mayor Sam Adams and former Portland Police Bureau commissioner Dan Saltzman have supported random drug tests.
We must ensure that an officers decision-making thought process including whether or not to use lethal force is not clouded by drugs, Adams said.
The proposal would also require any officers on leave for more than six months to be tested.
News: Local | Police union rejects plan for drug tests | The Register-Guard | Eugene, Oregon
The Associated Press
Appeared in print: Sunday, Oct 3, 2010
PORTLAND The union representing Portland police officers is pushing back against a proposal that would require random drug testing of police officers.
The proposal from the city would also require drug tests after use of deadly force, suspects deaths in custody and serious traffic crashes.
The city and police union are negotiating a two-year contract, in which the city has offered no cost-of-living increase in the first year but proposes an increase of at least 1 percent for the second year.
Portland Police Association attorney Will Aitchison said the random testing proposal would violate the officers right to privacy. The current standard for drug testing is reasonable suspicion, and Aitchinson said any tests beyond that would also violate officers protection from unreasonable search and seizures.
The proposal would exempt civilian employees of the department from testing, something lead city negotiatior Steve Herron said is fair because of the duties and gravity of duties associated with being a sworn police officer.
The consequences of law enforcement behavior is significantly more substantial and severe, Herron said.
The proposal would broaden the current drug-testing policy and the drugs for which they test including steroids as well as enforce stricter penalties for violations.
The city has said that multiple agencies nationwide permit similar testing, as does the Salem Police Department. Portland Mayor Sam Adams and former Portland Police Bureau commissioner Dan Saltzman have supported random drug tests.
We must ensure that an officers decision-making thought process including whether or not to use lethal force is not clouded by drugs, Adams said.
The proposal would also require any officers on leave for more than six months to be tested.